Parachute



F. W. McFARLAND.

v PARACHUTE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.IZ. I918.

.latvntcd July 22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FRANK w. M01 AND, or REYNOLDS, ILL nvo Is. 'rAnAcnUrn.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 1 1 22, 1919.

Application filed August 12, 1918. Serial No. 249,440.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, FRANK W. MCFAR- LAND, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Reynolds, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachutes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to life saving appliances for use on aeroplanes and other air ships, balloons and the like, and more particularly to an improved parachute for use by aviators, whereby. to protect their descent in jumping or falling from a machine and to land them safely without injury.

The invention contemplates an improved device of the above character having novel means for projecting the parachute from I the machine, so that the same'will not become entangled with the machine or mechanism thereof, the parachute being constructed in a novel manner, and being designed to be applied to the aviator so as to be in operative position for use at all times.

' With the above and other objects in view,

.as willappear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described herein and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like reference characters in- (Home the corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an aeroplane equipped with the improved life saving device or parachute and showing the manner of applying the same,

Fig. 2-is an enlarged sectional view ofthe projecting device,

Flg. 3 1s a vertical sectional view of the parachute proper,

Fig. 4 is an enlar ed fragmentary detailed elevation thereo f,

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing the parts folded,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device shown, in Fig. 2, with the parachute removed,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the harness for attaching the arachute to the aviator, and Fig. 8 is a etail showing the manner of releasing the parachute.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10

' designates the body or fuselage oi an aero'j .sisting of a belt 13, desi around the waist below t e arms and capaplane or other air ship, seat 11 for the aviator, indicated at 12. Provided upon the aviator is a harness coned to be applied provided with a v cured to the shoulder strapsin each instance, and connected to the loops or eyes 17 are suspending ropes 19, which lead to the parachute.

The parachute comprises a plurality of sections, preferably four, indicated at '20, said sections being preferably formed .of canvas or like similar material which is strong and substantially airtight. Each section is provided with ribs 21, preferably of rope or similar flexible material joined to centerpiece 22, if desired. At the lower portions of the ribs 21 rods 23 are secured, one being provided for each rib, certain of said rods having flattened portionsprovided with an aperture 24 in the opposite rod having an angularly or horizontally positioned portion 25 apertured as shown at 26, the portion 25 being retained in the opening 2-1 so that a pin may be inserted through the opening 26 as shown at 27 and connected with a series of cables 28, or ropes leading to the aviator or operator, so as to permit the release ofthe pins whereby the parachute ma be expanded when the operator has cleare the machine after the projection of the parachute, in a. manner to be hereinafter more particularly set forth.

The ribs and the portions 23 thereof which specified, are connected by leaf springs 29, which are normally straight, but adapted to be folded or buckled upon themselves, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings, so as to permit the end portions 25 to engage through the openings 24 whereby the parts will be secured together in a collapsed position as s ecified. Of course, it is to be understood t at the rod ortions 28 are rigid and are very short, w 1c the are connected and constructed of rods as remaining portion of the parachute can be collapsed to occupy a very small amount of s ace. If desired, the fuselage may be provlded with a seat or well 30 to accommodate the projecting apparatus adapted to clear the parachute from the machine so that the machine will not fall upon the operator when it is necessary for him to jump, or

if he falls. In the form shown, this projecting device includes a container in the form of a box or tank 31 having disposed therein a distending means illustrated in the form of a sprin 32, and having a plate or plunger 33 mova le in' the container and having cross strips 34 to reinforce the same.

The plate is provided with a central openhereinafter more particularly specified, so as to project the parachute,

For the purpose of compressing the spring 32 which is normally expansible, a cable 37 is connected to the plate 33 and extends through the hollow rod 36, and bottom of the casing 31 where it is connected to a suitable Windlass 38 orthe like, the plunger belng held down in its place through the medium of a spring latch 39 adapted to be releasedby a rope or cable 40, so as to project the parachute as desired, and keep the same under the control of the operator. When the spring latch 39 is released, by a longitudinal pull on the cable 40 the cable 37 will be unwound from the windlass, so as to release the plate, thereby projecting the parachute arranged upon the top of the container and the plate 33; preliminary to releasing the catch 39, the operator pulls the cables 28 so that the pins 27 will be released simultaneously to permit extension of the parachute when it 1s projected, and ropes 50 lead from the rib sections 21 for connection to-the harness applied to the operator whereby the operator will be suspended by the parachute and allowed to descend without injury when the device is projected by releasing of the parachute as specified.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and fcomprehensive understanding of the construction,

operation, and advantages of my invention may be had, and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scopeto releasably lock the rib structure in collapsed condition. I

2.In a life saving appliance for aeroplanes, a parachute including a collapsible rib structure, certain of the ribs having enlarged apertured terminals, the other ribs being provided with angular extremities engageable in the apertured ribs, means normally tending to separate the ribs to expand the parachute, a flexible body carried by the rib structure, and means engaging the angular terminals of the ribs to secure the parachute in collapsed condition.

, 3. Inv a life saving appliance for aeroplanes, -a parachute including a collapsible rib structure, a flexible cover carried thereby, and normally straight leaf springs connecting the terminal of the ribs normally tending to separate the latter and adapted,

sume a U-shape.

4:. Ina life saving appliance for aeroplanes, a parachute including a collapsible rib structure, a fiexible'parachute body carried thereby, flat springs connecting the terminal portions of the ribs of the rib structure and normally tending to expand the latter, certain of the ribs being provided with enlarged apertured terminals, the other ribs being provided with angular extremities engageable in the apertures, and means engageable with the angular extremities of certain of the ribs to retain the rib structure in collapsed condition.

5. The combination with the fuselage of an aeroplane and a receptacle-carried thereby, an expansion spring housed in the receptacle, a movable plate arranged in the receptacle'and adapted to be projected by the spring, a parachute mounted upon the plate and adapted to be launched in the air rod to permit expansionfof the spring and flexible means connecting the plate with the fuselage to prevent loss of the plate.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

FRANK W. MoFARLAND. 

